Carbohydrate Blocker

Carb blockers, also known as starch blockers, can help block the enzymes needed to digest certain carbs.

Starches are complex carbohydrates that cannot be absorbed unless they are first broken down by the digestive enzyme amylase. Amylase inhibitors, also called starch blockers, prevent starches from being absorbed by the body. When amylase is blocked, those carbs pass through the body undigested, so you don't absorb the calories.

They block carbs from being digested, apparently allowing you to eat carbs without (some) of the unwanted calories. As a result, these carbs then pass into the large intestine without being broken down or absorbed. They do not contribute any calories or raise blood sugar.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 human subjects showed that those who took Phase 2, a carbohydrate blocker, lost an average of 6.45 lb (2.93 kg) in 30 days, compared to those on placebo, who lost less than 1 lb (0.45 kg), on average. Those participants on Phase 2 also lost, on average, over 10% of body fat mass, and more than 3% in waist circumference.

The study was conducted by Leonardo Celleno MD, Alessandra D’Amore MD, and Maria Toliani of the Cosmetic Research Center in Rome. Analysis was conducted by Harry Preuss MD, Georgetown University Medical Center; and Nicholas Perricone MD, of Clinical Creations, Meriden, Connecticut. The study was published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2007.